Beat author’s portrait stolen from aging Seattle author

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Painting by Robert LaVigne/Image courtesy of askart.com

SEATTLE — A Shoreline man is accused of stealing more than a dozen works from an elderly Seattle artist he befriended, including a self-portrait of author William S. Burroughs, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.

George Chebanyuk, 41, has been charged with felony theft. King Couny prosecutors allege Chebanyuk stole the paintings from Seattle artist Robert LaVigne, the P.I. reported.

Chebanyuk befriended and cared for LaVigne after the artist suffered a heart attack, according to the P.I.

Chebanyuk, also known as George Charles Smith, allegedly told mutual friends the stolen paintings were gifts. Nearly two years ago, police seized 11 paintings and other items from the Shoreline home where Chebanyuk was living.